Apparatus for wrapping



Feb. 20, 1962 o. GRAULIG ET AL APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 24, 1956 INVENTORS. Oskor Groulig Jo h n Jackson m mosh Feb. 20, 1962 o. GRAULIG ET AL APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 24. 1956 Feb. 20, 1962 o. GRAULlG ETAL 3,021,768

APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING Filed Dec. 24, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet s FlG.3b

FIG.30

wmvroes: Oskor Graullg Joh n Jackson ATTORNEY Feb. 20, 1962 b. GRAULIG ET AL 3,021,768

APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING Filed Dec. 24, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 STAGE 3 FIG. 4

STAGE 1 wvsurops: Oskor Groullg John Jackson by ATTORNEY Feb. 20, 1962 o. GRAULIG ET AL APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oskor roulig Johq' Jackson ATTORNEY IVVENTORS' Feb. 20, 1962 o. GRAULlG ETAL v 8.

APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING Filed Dec. 24, 1956 6 SheetsSheet 6 Oskor Groulig John Jackson ATTORNEY IN VE N TORSZ' trite rates 3,021,768 APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING Oskar Graulig, Middle Village, and John Jackson, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignors to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New liersey Filed Dec. 24, i955, Ser. No. 630,249 1 Claim. (ill. 93-441) This invention relates to packaging machines adapted to form, on a series of hollow turret mounted mandrels, a cardboard carton containing a flexible liner and packaged articles. More particularly, the invention relates to an attachment for a cigarette packaging machine of the type described in United States Patents No. 1,875,986 and No. 1,926,192 of W. B. Bronander and No. 2,378,457 of C. Arelt.

Heretofore, cigarettes have been packaged commercially both in soft flexible pouch packages and in lined cardboard boxes. Most cigarettes sold throughout the world are packaged in soft pouches made and filled on hollow mandrel packaging machines. A minor proportion of world cigarette production is sold in rigid cardboard containers, which despite some attractive advantages over soft pouches, have heretofore been relatively more expensive to produce and have required more elaborate or expensive machinery than pouch packages. Consequently, there exists a relatively large capital investment by the cigarette industry in soft pouch-type packaging machinery.

There is a substantial commercial need for an attachment which can be easily joined to a soft pouch packaging machine and inexpensively operated therewith to produce rigid or hard pack cigarette packages. Soft pm or pouch-type packaging machinery has been described in the aforementioned United States Patents of W. B. Bronander. Hard pack or carton-type cigarette packaging machinery has heretofore operated on a principal entirely different from soft pack machinery and has required as a general rule two or more separate cardboard blanks to form a package as well as at least two independent machines.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an integral attachment for a soft pack or pouch-type cigarette packaging machine which forms a hard carton around a flexible liner filled with cigarettes.

It is also an object of this invention to adapt a hollow mandrel turret-type packaging machine to the manufacture and filling of cartons.

A further object of this invention is to provide a carton forming machine which completely packages articles within a flexible liner which is interlocked with a rigid cardboard outer package.

These and other objects of the invention are described in more detail and fully explained in connection with the following drawing wherein like reference characters indicate like parts and in which:

IG. la is a partially cut-away right side elevation of a cigarette packaging machine attachment, adapted to feed rigid cardboard blanks to a hollow mandrel on which blanks are formed into a package and filled;

FIG. 1b is a perspective plan view of the machine shown in FIG. In;

FIG. 2 is a partially cut away right side elevation of a hopper or magazine for feeding blanks into the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1a and lb;

FIG. 3a is an elevation of a folding mechanism detail shown in zone 4 of FIGS. 1a and lb wherein cardboard blanks are bent so that they fold correctly on a forming mandrel;

FIG. 3b is a plan View of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective series of views of steps performed by the mechanism shown in FIGS.

3,2l,758 Patented Feb. 2%, 1962 1a and 1b wherein a cardboard blank is coated with adhesive and partially folded prior to engagement with a forming arbor shown at the right margin of FIGS. 1a and lb;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic end view of a turret of forming mandrels into which blanks formed on the apparatus of FIGS. 1a and 1b are fed to be formed into packages.

container formed by the mechanism shown in FIGS. la.

and lb and FIG. 5 from the blank of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partially cut away perspective view of the cardboard blank shown in FIG. 7 partially folded on a mandrel or arbor shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the blank shown in FIG. 7 further formed than in FIG. 9 into a box on the arbor shown in FIG. 5.

According to the invention the machine includes three primary feed systems and an integrated packaging system. They are preferably mounted on a common frame and operated by a common drive. All of the movements of the entire machine, including both wrapper and article feeds, are synchronized, preferably mechanically, and preferably from a common power source such as an electric motor.

One feed system supplies. a flexible inner wrapper. This is preferably a continuous foil or sheet dispensed from a reel. The flexible inner wrap is wound around a hollow mandrel which is mounted on a turret. This systern of the apparatus follows the usual pouch packaging machinery.

The second feed system supplies material or articles to be packaged to the hollow core of the mandrel or arbor which has been wrapped with packaging material, although it may also feed an unwrapped mandrel or spindle. This system of. the machine also is derived directly from conventional pouch packaging machinery.

Theother two systems of the apparatus embody novel features of this invention. The mechanism for feeding box blanks to a spindle wrapped with a flexible inner wrapper constitutes the third feed system of the machine and is illustrated as the blank feeder of FIGS. 1a and 1b. Blanks shown in FIG. 7 are coated with adhesive and partially folded when they are delivered to the wrapping and packaging assembly or packer. In the drawing, FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2, 3a, 3b and 4 illustrate the means for feeding, adhesive coating, cementing and fold- 1 ing the blanks which are fed to the packaging system illus-' trated in FIGS. 5, 6, 9 and 10.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illus trated by FIGS. 1a and 1b of the drawing, a rigid frame 205 supports the entire cardboard wrapper or blank feed and is attached as an integral part of the machine to the base of the wrapping and article feed mechanism 230.

A hopper or magazine, shown in FIG. 2, is provided at the left side of the blank feeder, shown in FIGS. 1a and lb, from which integral stiff cardboard wrapper blanks are fed serially to a modified hollow mandrel cigarette packaging machine. As seen in FIG. 2 blanks are removed one by one from the magazine by the application of suction cups 203 mounted on a feed device such as a rocking arm 204. The remaining blanks are held in the magazine bysupports 223 which may be serrated and which separate the stack from the blank being fed. The blank is lowered onto a roller 231. An arm Z06 which is driven by a cam, moves a roll 208 over the blank. Both rolls are geared together so that theyv pull and/or push the blank onto a feed chain 209. The timing of the chain 209 is such that a pusher lug 210 is in place behind the blank and moves it along on the feed chain at the required speed. The blanks move through a thickness detector, such as a microswitch 202 shown in FIG. 4, stage one, which actuates a switch which.

stops the machine and prevents labels or blanks from moving through the machine as a multiple thickness.

The parts of the blank are shown by FIG. 7 spread out in the condition the blank leaves the magazine. FIG. 8 shows the blank assembled into a carton. FIGS. la and 1b are divided into stages corresponding to the stages of feeding shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows diagrammatically the evolution of the blank which reaches the arbor where the integration of the packaging system occurs. 7

In the first two stages adhesive is applied to the blank. This is indicated by arrows and stippled areas in FIG. 4. Individual blanks deposited on a moving feed track 209 are fed to a rotary punch flap-breaker 211 and undergluer 212 shown in FIGS 1a and 1b.

In the first stage adhesive is applied by an under-gluer 212 to the lower surface of a major end flap K at the time the flap breaker means 211 separates another end flap L from the inner front panel of the blank Z. In the second stage adhesive is applied by a spreader means 213 shown in FIGS. la and lb upon selected parts of the upper surface of the blank M, N, O and P.

In the third and fourth stages of FIGS. la and 1b and 4 of the drawing the blank is partially shaped, folded, cemented and bent. In the third stage a plow 214 pushes from the underside of glue flap Q until a right. angle is formed between this flap and the outer side panel R. The inner front panel Z and inner side panels X and Y are folded upwardly and downwardly through 180into superposition upon the respective outer panels along the scored hinges G and H to form a double thickness of front and side panels. The previous action of the flap breaker 211 facilitates this step. This is done by a lifter 232 for raising and swinging the inner panels at the side panel hinges G and H from the horizontal feed track 209 while retaining the outer panels on the horizontal track.

In a fourth stage, closely associated with the third stage, a cam and edging wheel 217 folds glue flap Q inwardly over the side panels R and X. This folding means is shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. The glue flap Q then springs back to form a near right angle with the continuous double side panel. This is illustrated in FIG. 4 by three successive stages. The front and side panel folding is completed by pressing or ironing the inner side panels over the outer side panels with rollers 216 while the two front panels are cemented together by the adhesive previously applied on the back side of i the outer front panel M. The cemented front panels are ironed together to spread and seal the adhesive area therebetween by a wheel 218 mounted on the same shaft 233 as the cam 217.

With the glue flap Q in a vertical position and the front and side panels folded and secured as a double thickness the blank is ready to enter the package forming, filling and sealing system. The fifth stage of FIG. 4 shows the folded blank moving under and into confronting relationship with a face of the hollow mandrel 297 which has been wrapped with a flexible inner wrapper 224. This also appears in FIG. 5. A seam clamp finger 219 holds the inner wrapper in place on the mandrel in a tubular or sleeve form. The blank is shown positioned under the mandrel in FIG. 5 and in FIG. 9. The edge of the blank F at major end flap L registers and contacts against label stops 229 seen in FIGS. 1a and 1b where it is urged by a. label pusher 221. The, mandrel is at the 3 oclock position on the vertical turret and the formation and filling of the carton is carried out as the turret rotates and the wrappers are folded through successive stages.

The successive box forming operations on the arbor or. mandrel 267 begin with the formation of a sleeve or tube. This is illustrated at the 4 oclock position of the arbor in FIG. 5. A cup or trough shaped clamp folding means 222 moving up from under the mandrel bends the blank against the mandrel along scored lines between front and side panels. Part of this mechanism also appears in FIG. 6, and the operation is further illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The tubular sleeve is completed by folding in the glue llap Q and folding over it the adhesive coated back panel P by a flap folder 225.

The back panel is held in place by a finger 219 until the adhesive is set.

One end of the tube, nearest the blank feed system, is closed by a folder means (not shown) which tucks minor end flaps S and T in and closes both of the major end flaps N and O to which adhesive was previously applied. A similar mechanism is described in the aforementioned patents. This is the top of the box seen in FIG. 8. The inner wrapper has been previously closed over this end of the mandrel. An open end carton is thus formed around the mandrel and an inner flexible liner is positioned within the box when the end of the box is pressure sealed at the six oclock position of FIG. 5.

When the wrapped mandrel advances on the turret to the nine oclock position,' filler materials (not shown) are moved into the hollow mandrel core. Typically these materials are cigarettes, but other materials are also suited to this kind of packaging. These include other smoking articles like cigars, confectionery, pharmaceuticals and marking materials like pencils or crayons. The filler is pushed by a loading means into the mandrel. Continued movement of the filler at the twelve oclock position pushes the assembly of carton, liner and filler from the hollow mandrel. At this stage the carton is filled, but open at one end. This open end is the bottom of the boX shown in FIG. 8.

Finally, the package assembly is closed by end folders. The flexible inner wrapper is locked within the folded end flaps of the cardboard outer wrapper. One form of interlock between the two major end flaps is illustrated in FIG. 8 where the inner wrapper is locked between major end flaps. The inner wrapper may also be locked between minor and major end flaps. Means are provided for folding the minor end flaps inwardly, for folding the inner wrapper over these end flaps and for closing the major end flaps. The last folded end flap is adhesively secured and sealed to the bottom of the carton and the package is complete.

There has thus been described a machine for packaging articles like cigarettes in a double package formed around a hollow mandrel, filled through the mandrel core, and sealed with a flexible inner wrapper locked between folds of a stiff outer wrapper.

What is claimed is:

In an attachment for converting a cigarette packaging machine of thetype having an intermittently driven rotatable turret, and a plurality of hollow mandrels carried by the turret in such fashion that rotation of the turret moves the mandrels successively through a plurality of Work stations, each of the mandrels having an elongated body of rectangular transverse cross-section and extend ing generally transversely to the plane of rotation of the turret, each mandrel carrying a folded inner wrap as the mandrel passes through one of the work stations, from a machine for packaging cigarettes in a soft pack to a machine for packaging cigarettes in a hard pack, the combination of means for feeding to each of the mandrels at the one work station a partially assembled paperboard carton blank having an inner front panel, an outer front panel, aback panel, side panels and a flap, said means comprising an elongated support frame extending generally transversely to the plane of rotation of the turret,

conveyor means operatively supported by said frame and disposed in alignment with the one work station, supply means supported by said frame for successively feeding flat blanks to one end of said conveyor means for transfer through a plurality of work stages to the mandrels, applicator means disposed at one of said work stages for applying a coating of adhesive to portions of each blank, means for folding the inner front panels of the blanks into superposition upon the outer front panels for adhesively joining the front panels of each blank together, and folding means for bending each flap to a position substantially perpendicular to one of the side panels in each blank, said conveyor means being operative to transfer each blank from said folding means to a mandrel at another work station in such manner that the front panels lie adjacent to a portion of the body of the mandrel; means for folding said side panels around side portions of the body of the mandrel so that said flap overlaps the portion of the body of the mandrel opposite to that portion adjacent to the front panels; and means for bending said back panel into engagement with said flap for adhesively joining them together.

References Cited in the file of this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,926,192 Bronander Sept. 12, 1933 2,116,362 Ness May 3, 1938 2,176,147 Palmer Oct. 17, 1939 2,512,922 Dearsley June 27, 1950 2,694,966 Vergobbi Nov. 23, 1954 2,774,286 La Bombard Dec. 18, 1956 2,824,684 Ahlers Feb. 25, 1958 2,874,524 Ringler Feb. 24, 1959 

